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MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Post University volleyball team split its season-opening tri-match at Saint Anselm on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles defeated Assumption 3-0 in their first match and fell to the hosts 3-0 in the second. The victory in the first match was Post's first season-opening win since 2005.
 
Sophomore Skyler German (Kansas City, Mo.) and senior Emily Wilman (Perth Amboy, N.J.) led the way offensively with 27 and 24 kills respectively. Senior Julia Slyaktina (Moscow, Russia) recorded 69 assists in the two matches. Junior Janiellee Alvarez (Norwich, Conn.) added 23 digs and four service aces.
 
Post 3, Assumption 0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-23)
The Eagles started slow in the first set, falling behind 12-6. Post answered back with seven straight points to take its first lead of the game at 13-12. Alvarez had three service aces during the stretch. From there the teams traded points until a 4-0 run by the Eagles, sparked by a kill from junior Hailey Griffin (Plainfield, Conn.) put Post in front 24-19. A service error by the Greyhounds gave the Eagles the victory.
 
Post jumped in front early in the second set and never looked back. German recorded five kills early as the Eagles built a 9-2 advantage. After allowing four straight points, Post took momentum back by winning six of the next eight points, led by three kills and an ace by Wilman, to take a 15-7 lead. A kill and an ace by German with the score 23-14 put Post in front 2-0 in the match.
 
Neither team led by more than three in the final set. With the score tied 5-5, Post built its largest lead at 9-6 on two kills by Wilman and two Assumption errors. The Greyhounds responded with five straight points to pull in front 11-9. Post tied the score 20-20 and never trailed again. Two kills by Griffin put the Eagles in front 24-21 before a service error ended the match.
 
Saint Anselm 3, Post 0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-17)
The Hawks jumped in front 5-0 in the first set, but the Eagles battled back to tie the score 10-10 with the help of two aces by Slyaktina and one by sophomore Morgan Griffin (Plainfield, Conn.). A kill by Griffin gave Post its first lead of the day at 14-13. The teams traded points until two kills by Saint Anselm's Katherine Teets with the score tied 24-24 give the home team the victory.
 
In the second set, Saint Anselm once again started strong, going in front 11-5. Post responded with a 9-4 run to tie the score at 14-14. Morgan Griffin had two aces and a kill during the comeback. The Hawks grabbed momentum back with five straight points. Back-to-back kills by the Griffin sisters and an error by Saint Anselm tied the score 23-23. A service error by Post and kill by Teets closed out the game.
 
The third set was back and forth until an 8-2 run by Saint Anselm made the score 22-14. Post tried to stay in the game with kills by Morgan Griffin, Slyaktina, and German, but it was too little too late as the Hawks took the 25-17 victory.
 
Next up for the Eagles is a visit to Molloy on Monday, Sept. 8. First serve in Rockville Centre, N.Y. is set for 6 p.m.